Mechanism for weaving



1952 w. J. BUDZYNA ETAL 2,580,994

MECHANISM FOR WEAVING Filed Aug. 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORSWALTER J BUDZYNA y MA URIC'E RFLAMAND ATTORNEY Jan. 1, 1952 w. J.BUDZ'Y'NA ETAL MECHANISM FORWEAVING Filed Aug. 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR,S ALTER J BUDZYNA y MA URICE R. FLAMAND 4 KMM% 1952 w. J.BUDZYNA ETAL- 2,580,994

4 MECHANISMFQR WEAVING Filed Aug. 26, 1949 SSheets-Sheet 3 I] 1 LHHMIHWuh m 5 E IN VEN TORS WAL'I'ER J B UDZYNA y MAURICE R.FLAMAND ATTORNEYPatented Jan. 1, 1952 waiter puaz'yiia M?! an si'gnors ionrzperco "Eastn ises M s y 59.113 and, Central Fails; 3. 1 as- I poraitiiiz'i,Hopedale,Mass., "a 'bipb'rati'on bfMaiiie Application August 26, 1949,erialNo. 112,570

SCIainiS.

This invfitionrpeitains' to a method and meeh- V ianism for controllingthe "filling thi ad in shuttleless looms or in looms adapted to insertcut lengths of filling from a relatively stationary supply. Morespecifically, the invehtion pertains to improvements in Siich loomsW'h'efebythe contiOl of the out or hon-Continuous lengths of fillingthread is SO ig-iilalted that the 'filliiig' is looked in the shediiiider conditions siich that the action of filling feeling forks 01'other mediaanishis adafited to stop the 'lo'on i iiio'on 'faiIii-re ofwarp threads While it is iin'ciei the "tension with whic'hit isinsertedand before there is any "opp'oftu'nit' for release Of that tension.

It is a further object of the-invention to 'iiiiprove the operation oflooms bf the type described in such manner that the shedding moveinentSiiiip'a'r'ted through the harness "inec hal iifsm shall not adverselyafielct "the smooth and iiitended operation 'of'the filling insertingcari'ieis'. A more specific object of the invention is that of "imprving the method and 'nie'ch'a-ni'si'n by means of whih the warp threadsare alised to alternate or shift theirlpo'sitioh's dlifihg the sheadingoperation and to close the shed qiiickiyand before tension is 'ieleas'edin the filling thi 'eaii being inserted and without so moving those warpthreads which form the lower 'paf-t of the shed that the 'rectili'n'e'armoveinent of the -filling in- "sjerting e'airiei' is disturbed therebyto impart t0 the rapidly moving carrier an ei'i-atic motion.

In looms in which filling is ihs'eitedfby carriers 'fiin'et'ioriin'g'upo'n mit 01 non-Continuous lengths of material drawn from relativelystati'o'nai'y sources of supply, there is, usually at each pickinsefted, a releasing o'fa out enii .by the carrier which may give riseto ceitain d'ifiiculties not experienced in the more conventional flyshuttle looms in Which the filling is ihseited as a substantiallyeontihuou's length of thread.

The action "of filling -feeling foik's e efating adjaoent the centralD'Urtio'n 6f the 'inateifial bi'ii'g woven or intermediate the terminalwarp threads at the shed will, 'if the filling is 'UhbOIitiQlleq, tendto draw some'of the thread baekawayfiifom the edges of the fabric "beingWoven antithrefore, may iorhi loops or ioese portions in theiiilingiirhieh are very obvious in the completed fabric. These ioo'seportions of "filling "show as swipes eiit'endihg throughout the lengthof the T fabiie at areas where the filling "fork or foiks liavefiihtitioned. V r

The quality of fabric is to "an extent depeniieiit iipo'ii"'Iriaihtaihing a, uniform tension in the jfiiiing "as it is laid acrossthe warp threa'qs and'in retaining that even tension throughout the entilehigt'h ofthe pick ii ntii it is ioek'ed into'th'e i'ab c and beateninto the Tell, that being easily 'Iish'ed in mere ebnyentionm ioorhssince the 11 g is ajlways'under tensiondue to its he- -i'i'ig eld at theshuttle anii under tension betWe'e'rithe shtittle eye and the selvage ie-m Whieh it last emerged. Theie the action of filliiig :fOik's or othermeans 'tendin'g fto draw back or to lo'dsen vthe ii'lling'isfsiiitahlyresisted so that no *particiilar" problem is involved.

According to the invention hereinafter 'deas, "for example, thatflescribed in 'co-pe'nding apfili'ca'tion Serial'fio. 11,622, filedJanuary 19,1949, are so improved that the 'sh'e'ddihg movement orinove'nient imparted to the "harness mechanism is *consiiieia'blymodified "and at "the sam time so 'obiitliiiate'd with the:iiioileliieiit of the flllihg 'eai ri'e'rs or tapes that 'the'twofunctionin iuii'isjo'n to lock the filling just prior to its'relea'sefby the "cahier end to aceoiiifi lish that Withoutdisturbiii'gthe movement of the filling ai'i'ie 's "or t'apes as mightotherwise occur if the tihfin of the 'h'ar'rie'ss in'eehanism Hconventionally opei'ated were to be altered Withoiit fiiithimodification of the'eiitire movement. I I i V The method involved maybriefly 'be stated to Eonibiisea eontrol of the harness mechanism byWhieh the shed is closed ii' ion the filling thread being insertedbefore the release theieof by the 'c'aiiiei bywh'ich it is 'being laidand while it is iifiier that tension to which it is subjected as thecarrier rapidly draws it through the "shed. In looiiis of this type it"is to be i ndersto od that the filling is Cut to a length suh thatat'e'a''h oi'rik, the eiid of the filling projects from the shed a'iierysho'it egterit thereby "to pfovide a siifiicient amount of fillingmaterial to extend across the fab ic, yet to avoid any excessive wasteof 'that 'I'iiat'eiiai. The carrier, one "example of which is to betibsei'ved in the application, above men'- tioned, afte eleasing thefilling, can, of course,

I exerois'e no infi ience theieomanii the situation is "then whichaccording to oberationfheietofore -en 'i-sioneci, the 311mg inserted inthe shed was without control for a brief interval of time. The camswhich control the harness mechanism, as will hereinafter be described ingreater detail, are so modified that the motion imparted to theharnesses is not instantaneously symmetrical about the center point orthe point at which the warp threads cross, but involves a movement ofwhichever portion of the warp threads is uppermost at the shedthroughout a considerable extent downwardly before there is anycorresponding movement of the warp threads in the lower portion of theshed upwardly. The shed is actually closed upon the pick of filling justbeing laid prior to its release by the carrier. More preferably, thatshed is closed before actual withdrawal of the carrier from the shed sothat for the last small portion of the carrier travel within the shed,the filling is locked by closing or crossing warp threads and thecarrier itself is actually held between or encompassed between the saidwarp threads which then close or cross just after the carrier emergesfrom between them.

The peculiar control and movement of the harness mechanism and itsattendant effect upon the warp threads at the shed accomplishes theintended locking of the filling thread without disturbing the mostadvantageous movement of the filling carrier or carriers. It is to beunderstood that in looms of this type there is a carrier at either sideof the loom and that each moves inwardly to a point adjacent the centerof the shed while one inserts a pick to about the half way pointwhereupon the other carrier re ceives the pick and withdraws it endwiseto complots the laying of that pick. The carriers may function to drawfilling entirely from one side of the loom, in which event one of thecarriers always functions as an inserter and the other receives thethread transferred from the first and withdraws it to complete the layinof the pick, but in other cases where filling is drawn from both sides,each carrier performs both functions in the particular timedrelationship necessary for weaving fabric, there being several differentschemes or methods which may be employed. The fact that these carriersmove at a very rapid rate makes it imperative that the movement of thewarp threads in changing the shed shall not disturb the intendedrectilinear movement thereof. The movement of the lower group of warpthreads at the shed is delayed until the carrier has reached the end ofits movement outwardly thereof, or to a point where the carrier hasreached substantially the outermost end of the shed and thereafter thelower threads are moved at a very rapid rate so that the crossing occursvery quickly, it being understood, however, that the majority of themovements of the warp threads. incidental to crossing the harnesses andlocking the filling is accomplished by whichever group of warp threadsis in uppermost position.

A more complete description of one embodiment of the invention and ofthe general characteristics thereof will be given in the followingdetailed description of the invention and by reference to theaccompanying figures of drawing in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing a shuttleless loom to which theinvention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the harness control means includingcams, means for driving said cams, followers, treadles andinterconnecting parts by which the movement from 4 said cams is conveyedthrough to the harness frames themselves.

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the harness cams.

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3 showing the cams and the contoursthereof.

Figs. 5 and 5a are two cooperating views, the first of which shows thewarp threads forming a shed and the filling carrier, lay and reed inposition relatively thereto, the shed being open at this point, thesecond showing the relative position of the filling carrier with respectto the warp threads as they form a shed into which the said carrier maybe projected.

Figs. 6-14a are corresponding views taken at different angular positionsof the mechanism and going through two opening and closin movements ofthe shed.

Now referring to Fig. 1, a shuttleless loom to 20, which the inventionhas been applied comprises edge of the fabric.

a framework made up'of loomsides 20 and 2| and a plurality of girts suchas the lower front girt 22, a breast beam 23 and other structural partsincluding the arch 24. A warp beam is provided with a suitable let-offmechanism and a series of warp threads generally indicated by numeral 25pass over a whip roll 26 and half of these are threaded through heddles21 in a heddle frame 28, the other half being passed through a pluralityof heddles 21' similar to the heddles 21 in a second heddle frame 29,and each of these frames is so mounted and controlled that they arereciprocated in alternate directions to form and to change the shed ofwarp threads through which the filling is passed.

The insertion of filling is accomplished by means of tapes asspecifically shown here, there being one such tape 38 at the right handend of the loom, that tape 30 being passed about an oscillated tapewheel (not shown) which is protected or encased within a closure member3!, there being certain guiding mechanism not necessarily to bedescribed here.

A filling motion part of which is enclosed within casing 32 and operatedby suitable cam or other means presents filling drawn from a supply 33to a carrier portion at the end of the tape 30, it being understood thatthe said carrier projects a length of filling toward the center of thefabric being woven and within the shed formed by the warp threads atwhich position a similar or cooperating carrier member in a second tapeat the other side of the machine draws that end outwardly to completethe insertion of the pick. It is to be understood at this point thatsingle picks might be laid in which event no selvage would naturally beformed at either side of the fabric, but preferably double lengths areemployed, these lengths being inserted as hairpins all as described inthe application above mentioned. In either instance, the carriersfunction to insert an end which is cut and which extends only ashortdistance from the opposite In the event the insertion is all fromthe same side the cut ends may be bound by a twisted selvage in a mannerwell known by those conversant with this art. If insertion is fromsupplies at both sides, then a natural selvage is formed at each sideand the employment of special selvage-forming devices will not be foundnecessary.

After insertion of a pick of filling, both carriers and tapes arewithdrawn outwardly beyond the filling presenting means or fillingmotion and the pick is beaten into the fell of the fabric by a read 33disposed betwee the hand fail at and a lay beam 35, Fig; 5 The movementof this lay structure which preferably extends only slightly beyond theterminal warp threads is one in which a considerable portion of thecycle is consumed in maintaining the "parts stationary. The lay iscarried at the upper ends of swords -35 pivoted'on a rock shaft S'l androcks to and fro by certain cam means generally indicated by nu meral 33and rotatable with the constantly rotating cam shaft 39, it beingunderstood that all 'of the loom mechanism is driven in unison by anysuitable source of power, that herein employed being shown as anindividual electric motor 40. The earnest functionupon fol-lowers onarms i! and 42 which are connected as a functional part of the swords'36.

After being woven, the fabric is thencontrolled by temples in aconventional manner to maintain its width and is then passed abouttake-up mechaand wound upon a cloth roll which may be supported anddriven by the conventional mechanism'generally indicated by numeral -53to form the roll of material shown here at 54.

Such a loom is started and stopped and'driven through clutch means (notshown). It is, of course, desirable that stop inotion'sbe provided andto that end warp stop means 45, either of mechanical or electrical type,functions to stop the 100m upon failure of any one of the warp threads,while other stop mechanism such as described in the co-pendingapplication Serial No. 109,036, filed August 6, 1949, is employed tostop the loom upon failure to insert a pick of filling in the intendedfashion. v

Since the filling threads do not extend for any appreciable distancebeyond the edges of the fabric being woven and since they are notsusceptible of being contacted by feeler mechanism other than at somepoint intermediate the edges of the warp sheet,- so-c'alled center forkmeans is employed for stopping the loom. That center fork mechanism mustemploy filling contacting fingers or tines which are preferablyrelatively light in weight and press upon the filling with a minimum offorce. However, it is quite evident that the filling feeling functionmust be sufficiently positive to be certain in its action and to avoidany possibility of operation after a stop should have been indicated, sothat the lack of tension at the ends of the filling contra to the casewhen weaving in a conventional loom, makes it particularly difiicult touse such center forks or stop means without the effect thereof being.

evident in the finished fabric. Even with the lightest possiblepressure, just enough of the filling is drawn back and loops of the sameformed by each individual tine or feeler member so that stripes will beevident in the finishedmaterial, that obviously being something whichcannot be tolerated.

Now referring to Figs. 1-4, each of the harness frames 28 and 29 isurged in an upward direction by more or less conventional harness springmechanism enclosed within a casing 46 and from which suspending strapsgenerally indicated by numeral 41 pass to be connected to the upper railof the frames, said tapes passing over freely rotatable pulleys orsheaves 4B and 49 as shown. These sheaves 8 and 49 Of which there are aplurality depending upon the number of harness frames and thus thenumber of tapes, are rotatable on spindles projecting from brackets 56and 5! in turn attached to the arch 24. For details of spring mechanismfor "drawing the frames 6 upwardly reference is hereby iii'ade to U.--S. P'a'tent 2,455,263.

As more clearly illustrated in Fig. 2,;eaeh er the harness frames hasdepending from its lower rail certain jack sticks 52 and 53 to which areattached adjacent their mid points certain 'jaek wires 5d and 55 thelower ends of which are formed into hooks or stirrups 56 and '51 whichare hooked into appropriate notches in their re' spective treadles 58and 59. Each "of the treadles has a follower 60 or 6|, as the case maybe, and these followers impart movement from the b rness cams presentlyto be described, to the heddle frames and heddles thereby to change theshed formed by the two separate groups of warp threads in a manner asherein described. The cams act positively to draw the frames downwardlywhile the springs, above mentioned, return the frames upwardly, althoughit is to be understood that that arrangement may be varied dependingupon the general construction of the loom, it being understood thatthere may be a reversal of this system so that the positive movementcauses elevation of the frames which may be returned by some resilientmeans. Again,the method and mechanism is to be understood to encompass asystem wherein the movement of the harness frames and other attendantparts is a positive one in each direction. In that event the cams hereindescribed and illustrated should merely be modified as will be evidentto qualified mechanics so that positive movement of the harness framesin each direction is provided.

The harness cams designated by numerals 62 and are integrally formed ona hub 64, Figs. 3 and and the cams are cut away at certain portions inthe interestof lightening the stru c ture. These cams are clamped on ashaft '65 and rotate therewith being keyed to and driven through a gearfixed to the'sh'aft, anidler 6i, and pinion t8 fixed to the cam shaft39, or to any other convenient rotating part of the loom. The idler '6?is rotatableon a stud held in a slot 69 formed as a part of bracket itattached to the framework such as the structural members El and l lThese beams support a treadle bracket, a treadle gear '12 upon which thetreadlesSS and 59 are pivoted and 'a guiding structure '12. The gearratios are such that for each pick of filling inserted, that is, forevery revolution of cam shaft 39, the shaft and the treadle cams makeone half revolution. 7

As illustrated in Fig. 4, each cam has concomtric or dwell portions,that at the heel, so called, extending for 62 while that at the toeextends for 92. t is to be understood that these figures are merelyillustrative of what has been employed by way of a practical cam systemon one particular loom. Variation of certain factors would likewisechange these values, but it is to be undertsood that the generalprinciples herein set forth would still apply. Between these concentriccam portions, there is to be found a cam contour adapted to pushdownwardly or lower the cooperating treadles by swinging them abouttheir pivots, and complementarily, a second contour portion governingthe movement of thecooperating treadlesand attached harness frames onthe reverse or return movement.

The actual contour of these cams adapted to impart to the frames aparticular and unusual motion is laid out to effect, in cooperation withthe position of the center 13 about which the treadles swing and therelative position at which the followers 60 and 6! engage theircooperating cam surfaces, to cause the downward movement of the top oruppermost harness frame to occur about 45 (with reference to cam shafttravel) in advance of the start of movement of the lower frame upwardly.It is to be understood that a half of each of the cams functionsthroughout a cycle of inserting a pick, or that the two cams when movedthroughout a complete revolution of 360 for shaft 65, control thechanging of the harness mechanism throughout the insertion of twoadjacent picks.

An inspection of Fig. 4 in which the direction of rotation isillustrated by the arrow will serve to assist in the explanation of thesequence of movements for the two groups of warp threads which are socontrolled by the harness mechanism as to form the shed. In the positionshown,

the follower 68 has just been permitted to rise and, of course, itsharness frame will be in a corresponding or top position. The parts willremain in that position throughout about 62 according to the contours ofthe cams herein described by way of illustration of a preferredembodiment which the invention may take. Follower 6| has been forceddownwardly by the ac tive surface 75 of the cam 63 and has for a fewdegrees been resting upon the extended concentric or dwell portion ofthe cam which extends for about 92 of arc. The shed then remains openuntil the upper harness frame is caused to descend by engagement of theactive contour IE of cam 62, that occurring an appreciable period oftime before the lower harness frame has any movement imparted thereto.According to the layout of the cams as employed here, there is actuallya 22 movement of shaft 65 or of the harness cams themselves before thelower harness starts to move upwardly, but during which time, the upperharness frame has been moved very rapidly toward its central position ortoward a position in which the warp threads controlled thereby will meetand cross those controlled by the harness frame which had occupied thelower position. Since the harness cams move at a speed one-half as greatas the speed at which the main cam shaft and most of the other parts areoperated, there is actually a 45 movement of the other parts of the loomor 45 of movement of parts which affect the fi1ling carriers between thestart of downward movement of the upper harness and the movement of thelower harness, that delay being employed so that the filling carrierswill be permitted to move outwardly along their intended rectilinearpathway and will not be disturbed or caused to fluctuate erratically aswould otherwise be the case if both harnesses move more or less at thesame time and throughout the same angular extents. The timing herebyprovided permits the tapes or other filling carrying instrumentalitiesto move practically to the ends of the shed before the lower harness hasmade any appreciable upward movement. It is to be understood that thetapes and filling inserting and transferring instrumcntalities fixed atthe ends thereof bear at least throughout a portion of their extent uponthe lower warp threads and thus any movement thereof in an upwarddirection would lift the tapes and appurtenant thread controlling meansin a manner to impart thereto an unintended and erratic movement whichwould adversely affect the efficiency and speed with which the mechanismis otherwise operated.

The movement of the parts continues and the two groups of warp threadsmeet and cross at which time the filling just inserted by the fillingcarrier will be gripped between the warp threads, adjacent ones of whichare moving in opposite directions and will thereby be sufficiently heldor retained against endwise displacement so that tension with which thethread is inserted will be maintained. Thus action of the filling forkor other instrumentalities will not adversely affect or tend to alterthe position or manner in which the filling thread is then retained andthere will be no visible evidence in the finished fabric to indicatethat said instrumentalities have displaced that thread after it has beeninserted.

The movement of the harnesses progresses until an extreme is reached atwhich the harness which was at the uppermost position then assumes thelowermost position and vice versa. Parts then dwell as before indicatedand then the cycle is repeated, the opposite groups of warp threadsbeing moved in the reverse direction from that on the previous cycle.

In Fig. 5 the heddles are indicated and in the particular positionshown, the 15 position of the main cam shaft, the harnesses are in theopposite or extreme positions so that the shed is opened to its fullestextent. At that particular time the tape and the filling inserterindicated by numeral T1 are, as indicated by the arrow, Fig. 5a, movinginwardly to project a length of filling into the shed. The lay beam,reed, etc., have started toward their rearmost position.

In Fig. 6 the parts have moved so that the cam shaft now occupies a 180position, it being understood that during the major part of the intervalbetween the 15 and 180 positions, the dwell portions of the harness camshave caused the harnesses to remain stationary. The lay beam, reed,etc., have practically reached their rearmost position after which theyare maintained stationary. The 180 position has been chosen here becauseat that point the filling carriers have been moved to mid position, itbeing understood that in Figs. 5a-14a, the shed indicated by therectangular dot-and-dash area within which the tape and carrier 11 areprojected is of double the actual length herein illustrated. A transferoccurs at the mid position as understood by those conversant with thisart and the opposite carrier (not shown) receives and carries thefilling to the opposite selvage. At this angular position the topharness has started to move downwardly but the lower harness is stillmaintained stationary.

At the 225 position, Fig. 7, that is, 45 of cam shaft travel or 22 /2"of harness cam travel after the position of Fig. 6, the topmost harnesshas moved downwardly to a considerable extent while the lowermostharness has just started to move upwardly. In Fig. 7a the carrier hasstarted to move outwardly or be retracted after transfer and, of course,the shed has closed to an appreciable extent.

At the 285 position, Fig. 8, the warp threads have been brought intoalignment, or in effect, have crossed sufficiently to lock the filling.At that time all except about two or three inches of the carrier hasbeen withdrawn from the shed, Fig. 8a. However, the filling is lockedand, it is to be understood that the feeler mechanism forming a part ofthe filling stop motion may be employed at any time thereafter withoutdrawing loops of the filling or otherwise disturbing it so that itsefiect may be obvious in the completed,

completely withdrawn from the shed and has moved outwardly almost. toits extreme position, Fig. 9a, in preparation for receiving andinserting the next pick at that side. The harnesses have mdved so thatthe harness which was in opmost position has now attained its lowermosextent of travel and that. which was lowermost at the 15 position, abindicated, has reached the. uppermost position, Whifih. it may occupy.

In the following-Figs. lO-14a thecycle of movement incidental to thenext pick is shown and corresponds to that above described except thatthe opposite harnesses are to be found upper and lower positions asindicated by the arrows accompanying the heddles. The same. timing isobvious and the parts will be found to occupy similar positions at thesame angular positions of the; cam shaft.

The invention has been, described by reference to a simple type of loom;in which only two harnesses are used, but it is to be; understood thatthe principles may be applied to looms employinga greater number ofharness frames, and which may be employed for patterning effects.v Theactual. control of the harnesses by means of the harness. cams may bevaried greatly since in some instances the harness. frames are moredirectly or positively operated in both directions rather than beingmoved in one direction by cam means and returned through resilient orspring means. The same principles may be employed, and cams or othermeans capable of controlling the move ment of the parts in bothdirections rather than a single direction will thenbe utilized.

By way of illustration of one preferred embodiment of the inventionwhich has. takenpractical form, certain angular extents of cam contoursand a particular timing of parts has been described. It is to beunderstood, however; that this portion of the description is only anexample of one set of dimensions and angular extents which have beenfound satisfactory in actual practice, and therefore, the description isnot to be interpreted as limiting the practice of the invention toprecisely what is described since it is obvious that the change ofcertain other parts or other alterations or differences in mode ofoperation may vary these dimensions or angular movements and also thetiming to an appreciable extent.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofways. This application is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, but it is intended to cover all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a loom adapted for weaving by inserting cut lengths of filling byfilling carriers which take filling from a relatively stationary sourceof supply, the method of locking picks of filling within theirrespective sheds formed by the warp threads which comprises the steps ofclosing the shed upon the filling by first lowering the topmost warpthreads which form the shed into contact with the filling carrier beforemoving the lower warp threads which form the shed any appreciabledistance thereby to reduce the opening of the shed without disturbingthe filling carrier and then continuing movement of said warp threads toclose the shed upon the filling as it is deposited by the carrier priorto withdrawal of the carrier from. the shed and before release, of thepick of filling by that carrier.

2;. In a loom adapted for weaving byinserting cut; lengths of: fillingby filling carriers which take filling from a stationary source ofsupply, the method of locking picks of filling within their respectivesheds formed by the warp threads which comprises the steps of closingthe shed upon the filling before insertion of the pick is completed andby first moving the upper group of warp threads downwardly intoproximity to the pick before any substantial movement-of the lower groupof warp threads is effected, and then continuing to closethe shed uponthe filling to-a point of crossing: the warp just. prior to withdrawalof the carrier from the shed and subsequent release of the pick thereby.

3. In a loom adapted for weaving by inserting cut lengths of filling byfilling carriers which take filling from a relatively stationary sourceof supply, means for shedding warp threads and cooperating means forreciprocating said filling carriers into and from a shed formed by thewarp threads, said means for shedding the warp threads comprisingharness mechanism and cams for actuating said harness mechanism to closethe shed by first lowering those warp threads which form the upperportion of the shed anapthreads, said means for shedding the warpthreads comprising harness frames and heddles,

cam means for reciprocating said frames and heddles to change the shed,said cam means having contours so formed that the upper portion of theshed is first lowered into substantial contact with the filling carrierbefore any appreciable change of position of the threads forming thelower portion of the shed is effected, and thereafter, both portions ofthe shed are moved to cross the warp.

5. In a loom adapted for weaving by inserting cut lengths of filling byfilling carriers which take filling from a relatively stationary sourceof supply, means for reciprocating said filling carriers into and from ashed formed by the warp threads, means for shedding the warp threadscomprising harness frames and heddles through which the Warp threads arepassed, cam means for actuating said frames and heddles alternately inreverse directions to change the shed, said cam means having contourssuch that the warp threads forming the upper portion of the shed arelowered a considerable distance before an appreciable movement of thethreads forming the lower portion of the. shed is effected, and meansfor rotating said cam means in timed relationship to the reciprocatorymovement of the carriers to close the shed to lock the filling againstendwise displacement just prior to the time a carrier is withdrawn fromthe shed to a position to release its pick of filling.

6. In a loom adapted for weaving by inserting cut lengths of filling byfilling carriers which take filling from a relatively stationary sourceof supply, means for reciprocating said filling carriers into and from ashed formed by the warp threads,

- means for shedding the Warp threads comprising harness frames andheddles through which'the warp threads are passed, cam and followermeans connected to said harness frames for imparting movement thereto,each said cam having a portion of its contour for lowering itsrespective frame, a portion for raising it and dwell portions formaintaining the frame stationary, said cams being generally opposed sothat one frame is raised as the other is lowered, said cam and followermeans further having such contours and being so disposed with respect totheir followers that the motion imparted to the frames at each cycle isone in which the downward movement of the upper frame precedes theupward movement of the lower frame by an amount such that the harnessesare substantially to a point of crossing before the filling carrier iswithdrawn from the shed, and do cross to lock the filling before it isreleased by the carrier.

7. In a loom adapted for'weaving by inserting cut lengths of filling byfilling carriers which take filling from a relatively stationary sourceof supply, means for reciprocating said filling carriers into and from ashed formed by the warp threads, means for shedding the warp threadscomprising harness frames and heddles through which the warp threads arepassed, cam and follower means connected to said harness frames forimparting movement thereto, each said cam having a portion of itscontour for lowering its respective frame, a portion for raising it anddwell portions for maintaining the frame sta tionary, said cams beinggenerally opposed so that one frame is raised as the other is lowered,said cam and follower means further having such contours and beingsodisposed with respect to their followers that the motion imparted to theframes at each cycle is one in which the downward movement of the upperframe precedes the upward movement of the lower frame by an amount suchthat the harnesses are substantially '12 to a point of crossing and thelower group of warp threads is not raised to disturb the rectilinearmovement of the filling carrier as it is withdrawn from the shed, but docross to lock the filling before it is released by the carrier.

8. In a loom adapted for weaving by inserting cut lengths of filling byfilling carriers which take filling from a relatively stationary sourceof supply, transfer that filling from one carrier to another at a pointintermediate the shed in which the pick is inserted and then extend thefree end of that cut length through the remainder of the shed, themethod of locking said picks of filling within their respective shedsformed by warp threads which comprises the steps of closing each shedupon its pick of filling substantially at the time at which the carrierwhich extends the free end of filling reaches the point at which it iswithdrawn from the shed, but maintaining the warp threads clear of thefilling until the carrier is moved substantially to that point, andreleasing the said out or free end of the filling after the pick hasbeen gripped by the warp threads, but after the carrier has beenwithdrawn from the shed and while the filling is under tension.

WALTER J. BUDZYNA. MAURICE R. FLAMAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 782,569 Lacey Feb. 14, 1905789,845 Draper May 16, 1905 1,580,178 Talbot Apr. 13, 1926 1,805,046Menschner May 12, 1931 2,042,422 Brown May 26, 1936 2,106,727 DrobileFeb. 1, 1938 2,497,077 Firing Feb. 14, 1950

